The universities in the Western Cape mutually benefit from best practices and advances in the crucial and dynamic teaching and learning space in higher education, so that they remain responsive and current in order to attract and engage the best minds.

This is according to Prof Muhammad Nakhooda from the Department of Biotechnology, who recently attended the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL) Conference, at the University of Stellenbosch. As a recent Fellow of the Teaching Advancement at University (TAU), Nakhooda presented his research based on the development of a multilingual pedagogy for Biotechnology.

Nakhooda says his research is a novel approach for the Sciences, which seeks to widen access to the science curriculum for English second language students. It seeks to address the systemic challenge of language in higher education, by harnessing the linguistic resources already prevalent in the students’ minds. In this manner, challenges are viewed as opportunities, student capital is recognised, and students are given agency to become involved in and guide their learning journey.

“It was a deeply enriching experience to have been part of the TAU Fellowship journey. It afforded me the opportunity to reflect on my teaching philosophy, develop personally and professionally as well as implement a wealth of shared ideas in my classroom. It was this experience and knowledge that I brought to the SoTL Conference”

He adds that the TAU project, is an initiative of the Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology, which forms part of Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of South Africa (HELTASA). It brings together academics from all universities in South Africa, who are recognised for their distinction in teaching and learning.

“It was a privilege to interact with and learn from excellent teachers… And we hope to do the same at CPUT's Research in Teaching and Learning Conference on the 5^th of December this year.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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Two academics have completed the Teaching Advancement at Universities (TAU) Programme and have started sharing their newly-acquired skills with their colleagues to enhance teaching excellence at CPUT.

Dr Nomakhaya Mashiyi, Language Coordinator in the Faculty of Education, and Dr Bernadette Millar, a senior lecturer in the Clothing and Textile Department, are now certified TAU Fellows.

The programme is funded by the Department of Higher Education and Training and empowers academics countrywide to be change agents at their universities.

Hosted by the University of Johannesburg, the inaugural two-year long programme consists of contact sessions and online support from supervisors.

The programme’s 53 participants were each required to do an individual’s research project aimed at promoting the Scholarship of Learning and Teaching as a marriage of learning and teaching with research.

“My research study evaluated academic and non-academic support programmes at CPUT’s Education Faculty,” says Mashiyi.

She added that the programme was innovative and empowering.

“We discussed teaching and learning at our universities and our envisaged role in promoting effective teaching and learning.”

She is of the view that each institution should create spaces for the TAU fellows to engage with fellow lecturers on matters on matters relating to teaching and learning.

Millar says the TAU Fellowship is very important for the country’s universities because it foregrounds learning and teaching in Higher Education.

“It was very stimulating to connect with academics from other universities and see the challenges we each face before deciding on how to move forward,” she says.

“I feel very honoured to have been part of the fellowship as I learnt a great deal and have since passed the knowledge to my colleagues and will also use it when supervising postgrad students.”

Written by Kwanele Butana
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